U.S. Department of Education Data Document a Declining 17-Year Trend in Black College Student Graduation Rates

Authors

  • Andrea Griffin Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • Charles J. Hobson Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • John M. Novak Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • Mary Beth Mitchell Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • Jana Szostek Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • Jennifer Burosh Indiana University Northwest, USA
  • Ana Hobson Roosevelt University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jump.v6i2.4438

Keywords:

graduation rates, national graduation trends, black and white graduation rates, six-year graduation rates

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct the largest (2002-2018) longitudinal analysis and comparison of Black and White college student 6-year graduation rates. Data were obtained from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for 17 cohorts (1996-2002 to 2012-2018) of Black and White students. Regression analyses confirmed: (1) a statistically significant negative linear trend for Black students, (2) a statistically significant positive linear trend for White Students, and (3) statistically significant differences between the Black and White student regression lines for both the y-intercepts and slopes. In addition, adverse impact, using the EEOC’s “4/5ths rule” was documented for Black students, as compared to White students, in all 17 cohorts.

Author Biographies

  • Andrea Griffin, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    Andrea Griffin, Ph. D., is an Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business and Economics, Indiana University Northwest. She has varied research interests, including college graduation rates in BIPOC communities, gender and diversity, volunteering and disability, mediation and conflict resolution, and critical management studies/critical race theory. griffane@iun.edu

  • Charles J. Hobson, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    Charles J. Hobson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Management in the School of Business and Economics, Indiana University Northwest.  His major areas of expertise lie in organizational behavior, supervisory management, human resources management, sexual harassment in the workplace, team development, and leadership. chobson@iun.edu

  • John M. Novak, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    John Novak is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness & Research at Indiana University Northwest. His expertise, as a 25-year veteran of institutional research, lies in collection and analysis of higher education metrics for institutions and student success. jmnovak@iun.edu

  • Mary Beth Mitchell, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    Mary Beth Mitchell, M.A., works at Indiana University Northwest as a data analyst/programmer in the office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research and is an adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychology. Her interests include researching methods to improve student success and retention and developing teaching methods to help students enjoy taking statistics. mbmitch@iun.edu

  • Jana Szostek, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    Jana Szostek, JD, is the Director of the Center for Professional Development and Adjunct Faculty in the School of Business and Economics, Indiana University Northwest. Her areas of expertise include business law, human resources management, and training and development. jaszoste@iun.edu

  • Jennifer Burosh, Indiana University Northwest, USA

    Jennifer Burosh is an undergraduate student in the School of Education at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN specializing in urban education. jburosh@iu.edu

  • Ana Hobson, Roosevelt University, USA

    Ana Hobson is currently a marketing professional in the tech industry in Chicago, IL. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science at Roosevelt University. Her areas of expertise lie in consumer behavior and market research. ananevone@gmail.com  

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Published

2022-08-20

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2022): Journal of Underrepresented & Minority Progress

Section

Articles

How to Cite

U.S. Department of Education Data Document a Declining 17-Year Trend in Black College Student Graduation Rates. (2022). Journal of Underrepresented & Minority Progress, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.32674/jump.v6i2.4438